Ingredients
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2.5 pounds Chicken Breast
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2 tablespoons juice from a Lemon
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3 cups Cilantro - Freshfinely chopped leaves
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1 cup Carrotsthinly sliced
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2 fresh Ginger1–inch pieces
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6 tablespoons Canola Oil
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1/2 Jalapeño Chiliseeded and minced
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1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
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5 cloves of Garlic
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2 teaspoons Cumin
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1 teaspoon ground Coriander
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1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
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1 teaspoon Sea Salt
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1 cup Water
Steps for Indian Lemon Chicken with Fresh Cilantro
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1
Done
4 Minutes
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Prepare the ingredientsFinely chop the fresh cilantro leaves, mince the jalapeno pepper and slice the carrots. |
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2
Done
9 Minutes
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Prepare the chicken breastsPut the ginger and 4 tablespoons of water in a blender or food processor and process until it is a paste. In a medium non-stick pot or frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken, a few pieces at a time, and brown by turning them, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pieces to a bowl. |
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3
Done
2 Minutes
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Cook the paste from blenderPut the garlic in the oil and sauté. When it is golden, add the paste from the blender, stirring 1 minute. |
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4
Done
4 Minutes
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Add the rest to the potAdd the cilantro, chili, cayenne, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and salt. Stir 1 minute. Return the chicken pieces and their collected juices to the pan and add 3/4 cup water, the lemon juice, and the carrots. Stir and bring to a boil. |
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5
Done
30 Minutes
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Cook the chicken breasts both sidesReduce heat to low, cover, and cook 15 minutes. Turn the chicken meat and cook another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. If the sauce is too thin, uncover the pot, increase the heat and boil to thicken. Season with sea salt. Enjoy! |
Additional Info for Indian Lemon Chicken with Fresh Cilantro
As I wrote before, the usual Lemon Chicken recipe can be transformed into a Scalopina very easy, but how about having another variation of it? This Indian recipe is as tasty as “its sister”, and also very healthy. It is a great way to spruce up any meal and it also works great as a healthy snack or meal on its own.
Content on this page…
About Lemon Chicken with Fresh Cilantro recipe
Are you a fan of fresh coriander? I am. I really like eating this herb, either used in cooking or fresh as a garnish or seasoning. So when I saw this recipe using fresh cilantro, and lots of it, I knew that I just had to prepare and revamp it a bit. Turns out that the flavor is substantially mellowed as the cilantro wilts while the chicken braises. It melts into a delicious herby sauce with other classic flavors like garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, or cayenne. But the crucial ingredient is lemon juice, which elevates all the flavors and brightens the chicken meat. The result is tender chicken with lovely, fragrant Indian flavors.
Indian food
The traditional food of India has been widely appreciated for its fabulous use of herbs and spices. Indian cuisine is known for its large assortment of dishes. The cooking style varies from region to region and is largely divided into South & North Indian cuisine (I didn’t divide this cuisine on cookafterme.com). India is quite famous for its diverse multi-cuisine available in a large number of restaurants and hotel resorts, which is reminiscent of unity in diversity.
The staple food in India includes wheat, rice, and pulses, with chana (Bengal Gram) being the most important one. In modern times, the “Indian palette” had a lot of change. In the last decade, as a result of globalization, a lot of Indians have traveled to different parts of the world and vice versa, and also has been a massive influx of people of different nationalities in India. This has resulted in the Indianisation of various international cuisines.
Health Benefits of Indian Lemon Chicken
By satisfying our appetite, we still care about our body, not only calculating calories but also providing it with nutrient-enriched food. I understand that fatty, fried, and heavy is not good, but green vegetables and fresh fruits are. And that is the best quality of Indian cuisine. It includes a lot of vegetables and fruits slightly cooked to keep all vitamins. This cuisine is rather balanced, including proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, and healthy fats in needed proportions. Dairy foods are welcome and yogurts are used in a lot of dishes. The milk allows for keeping the digestive tract in a healthy state due to the ‘good bacteria‘ found in it.
Moreover, in Lemon Chicken with Fresh Cilantro, you will find ginger, turmeric, garlic, chili, and other things, which can boast of healing properties proved by medicine or science.
- Turmeric, for example, is used to promote prostate health. It fights deviations caused by inflammation. Medical researches prove that this herb improves heart health and prevents diabetes. And we know that these two problems often lead to erectile dysfunction. Thus, if a man eats dishes with turmeric, he is protected from impotence.
- Ginger is a perfect ingredient for many dishes. The ginger tea fight against the flu or prevents it, eases nausea, and improves digestion. It contains vitamins and minerals needed for men’s health. The manganese in it aids with neurological health and takes part in processes releasing the hormone testosterone.
- Chicken Breast is one of the best meats for weight-loss and fatless diets. It also has a lot of properties and minerals (check it out on google, you’ll be amazed).
- The other ingredients used in this Indian version of Lemon chicken are also great against any disease.
So we can definitely say that Lemon Chicken with Cilantro is a healthy recipe.
Can I lose weight if I add Indian Lemon Chicken in my meal plan?
While there is no replacing exercise and cutting back on processed foods, adding spices to your recipes can speed up weight loss. “Research suggests that when you eat hot peppers, it increases your body heat, which boosts metabolism up to five percent, and increases fat burning up to 16 percent’’. Spicy foods not only decrease your appetite, but they may also help increase calorie burning, therefore, I honestly believe that we can definitely add Indian Lemon Chicken with Cilantro to our lose weight meal plan.
Notes and Tips
I will be honest and tell you that I have served this for lunch, dinner as an appetizer, a side dish, and even made wraps with it! As an appetizer, I served it on small toast with a drop of ketchup, which goes well as a side dish alongside most other meals. You can also serve Indian Lemon Chicken with noodles. The sauce just coats the noodles so beautifully you don’t need anything else. Wraps are the easiest. My kids love burritos or tortilla-style wraps, so leftovers usually go in wraps with a mix of salad. Perfect for my kids’ lunch boxes.
